Mid-Week Movie News Wrap Up – Jan. 15, 2009

It’s that time of the week again!

In this week’s wrap-up:

Verbinski forgets Pirates and heads to dry land; Jim Sheridan has a Black Mass; get (d)ready for A Night At The Museum; Jolie “flips” for Salt and Henry Selick knows how to Count.

1. Pirates of The Caribbean director Gore Verbinski is mulling over directing an untitled script by Michael Gilio.

According to Variety:

“The drama focuses on a retired rancher who responds to a phone solicitation swindle that wipes out his savings.”

Sounds low key, but don’t be surprised if Universal Pictures contacts Verbinski’s Pirate pal Johnny Depp.

Source: Variety

2. Irishman Jim Sheridan will direct a film adaptation of Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob. The true story follows two childhood friends – one a criminal and the other an FBI agent.

The film was originally in development at Miramax as a possible movie for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Remember those guys?

Source: Variety

3, The official title for A Night At The Museum 2 is Night At The Museum: Battle of The Smithsonian. It opens May 22, 2009.

I’d recommend that you book a holiday or something on that date. Just to be sure!

4.  All systems are go for Salt starring Angelina Jolie. Apparently Jolie “flipped” over the new draft by Brian Helgeland. According to Moviehole:

“Angelina apparently flipped for Brian’s new script,which she absolutely adored. Crew off to Russia next week to scout locations for the scenes involving the training of the Russian sleeper spys.These scenes are set in the 1970s and 80s. The ending is rumoured to have been changed from a White House setting to Camp David. Shooting still on course for early March start in NYC.”

Philip Noyce will call the shots on the thriller that was originally going to star Tom Cruise.

Source: Moviehole

5. Coraline and Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick is working on an adaptation of Philip Pullman’s Count Karlstein. When speaking to Joblo Selick said:

“have a couple of other things, but the primary one is an older Philip Pullman kids book called Count Karlstein. I’ve got a film story worked out and I’ll eventually write a screenplay and start designing.”

Source: Joblo

That’s it for now. See you at the movies.